Accreditations
Plaza maintains institutional and programmatic accreditations to ensure the highest quality education and experience for our students.
Institutional Approvals and Accreditation
Plaza College is authorized by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to confer the following degrees:
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
- Associate of Occupational Studies (A.O.S.)
- Associate of Science (A.S.)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Master of Science (M.S.)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Plaza College is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Plaza College’s accreditation status is Accreditation Reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status in 2023 was to approve the College’s substantive change request to include the first Master’s in Healthcare Administration leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree within the institution’s scope of accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States. Please click here to view the college’s most recent Statement of Accreditation Status.
Plaza College undergoes the process of MSCHE self-study every eight years. Self-study is a collaborative process under which the institution performs a self-assessment of itself to determine its ability to meet the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation. To stay informed on the College’s current self-study process, please visit the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Institutional Reaccreditation Process 2024-2025 site.
Programmatic Approvals and Accreditation
The Court Reporting program is approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 400, Reston, Virginia 20191. www.ncra.org.
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: www.ada.org/en/coda
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Plaza College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org/)
The Surgical Technology Program at Plaza College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (www.arcstsa.org).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs (CAAHEP)
9355-113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
http://www.caahep.org 727-210-2350
NC-SARA
Plaza College participates with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC- SARA), an agreement that establishes national distance education standards and consumer protections. Please refer to NC-SARA’s website for more information about eligibility, coverage, procedures, and a listing of participating states and institutions.
Plaza College participates with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), an agreement that establishes national distance education standards and consumer protections.
Please refer to NC-SARA’s website for more information about eligibility, coverage, procedures, and a listing of participating states and institutions.
Complaint Procedure
Section 491C (j) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 provides that a student, faculty member, or any other person in higher education has the right to file a written complaint if they believe that the college has acted contrary to its published standards or that conditions at the college appear to jeopardize the quality of the institution’s instructional programs or the general welfare of its students.
Any person who feels they have a legitimate complaint should contact:
Charles E. Callahan IV
Provost
provost@plazacollege.edu
To contact NYSED for specific to SARA student complaints please go to: https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/sara-student-complaint-process. SARA policies do not cover complaints related to grades or student conduct violations.
Complaints must be made within two years of the incident by contacting:
Andrea Richards
Supervisor of Higher Education Programs New York State Education Department 89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
518.474.1551
IHEauthorize@nysed.gov
Students who would like to review the NC-SARA complaint structure required of NC-SARA participating institutions may do so here: https://www.nc-sara.org/sara-student-complaints
Licensure Disclosure – Dental Hygiene
The Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene, if successfully completed, meets the licensure requirements for a Registered Dental Hygienist license in New York, https://www.op.nysed.gov/dental-hygienists . As part of the program, students are required to take and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments examination (CDCA).
Graduates of the Dental Hygiene program, when they obtain a license in the state of NY and travel to another state, can be licensed either by credential or examination depending on each state’s requirements. Every State Board of Licensure is governed by its own State Board of Dentistry, and state laws/board rules can and do change from time to time. It is recommended that all enrolled and prospective students contact their state’s licensure entity to review current licensure requirements.
This disclosure is not a guarantee of approval of any application for licensure in any state.
At this time, all 50 US states and territories recognize the NBDHE exam and 47 of 50 states and territories recognize the CDCA exam for initial licensure. The following states do not accept the CDCA as a pathway to initial licensure:
| State | State Licensure Contact |
| Delaware | https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/dental/hygienist_license/ |
| Georgia | https://gbd.georgia.gov/ |
| Nebraska | https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Dental-Hygienist.aspx |
Licensure Disclosure – Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, if successfully completed, meets the licensure requirements for a Registered Nurse license in New York, https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions-index/nursing. As part of the program, students are required to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Graduates of the Nursing program, when they obtain a license in the state of NY and travel to another state, may apply for licensure based on each state’s requirements as outlined in its Nursing Practice Act. State laws/board rules can and do change from time to time. It is recommended that all enrolled and prospective students contact their state’s licensure entity to review current licensure requirements.
This disclosure is not a guarantee of approval of any application for licensure in any state.
At this time, Plaza College cannot determine whether completion of its Nursing, B.S. is sufficient to meet the licensure requirements in the following states and territories:
Licensure Disclosure – Surgical Technology
The Associate in Science Degree in Surgical Technology at Plaza College is designed to meet the educational requirements for students pursuing national certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
It is important to note that licensure and employment requirements for surgical technologists vary by state and healthcare facility. Some states may require graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited program and possession of the CST credential, while others may have different or no formal requirements. At this time, New York State does not issue licensure for surgical technologists but mandates certification and education standards under Public Health Law § 2824.
Student Guidance:
- All prospective and enrolled students are encouraged to visit NBSTSA’s website and individual state health department or licensing board websites for the most up-to-date information.
